Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Hand Engraved Pocket Watch, 1918 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: WatchMuseum.org shop · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: WatchMuseum.org shop · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Hand Engraved Pocket Watch, 1918

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Elgin (maker)
Date: 1918
Historical period: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
Country of origin: United States
Object type: Pocket watch
Materials / technique: gold
Dealer: WatchMuseum.org shop
Stock no.: Product 3610
Credit line: Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3610)
Catalogue title (original): Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Hand Engraved Pocket Watch (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 3610), this is a pocket watch by Elgin, made in United States, dated 1918. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

Step back in time with the Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Hand Engraved Pocket Watch from 1918, an exquisite piece that embodies the elegance and sophistication of a bygone era. This open-faced pocket watch, crafted by the renowned Elgin Watch Company, is a testament to superior craftsmanship and timeless design. Encased in luxurious yellow gold-filled material, it measures a perfect 43mm in length and 53mm in diameter, making it ideal for everyday wear. The kiln-fired enamel dial, adorned with Breguet-style Arabic numerals and original blued steel hands, adds a touch of classic charm. Elgin’s legacy of producing high-quality timepieces, from railroad watches to scientific instruments, is evident in this masterpiece, which features a hand-engraved case and a handmade dial. Built to endure and designed to impress, this pocket watch promises to be a cherished heirloom for generations. It even comes with a matching gold-filled pocket watch chain, ready to complement your style with a touch of sophistication and nostalgia. Whether you’re a collector or simply appreciate fine craftsmanship, this Elgin watch from the Art Deco period is a remarkable addition to any wardrobe. This Elgin Watch Company open-faced pocket watch is a timeless classic that exudes elegance and sophistication. Crafted from yellow gold-filled material and measuring 43mm in length and 53mm in diameter, this watch is perfectly sized for everyday wear. The kiln-fired enamel dial features Breguet-style Arabic numerals and original blued steel hands. The Elgin Watch Company was renowned for its high-quality timepieces, having produced watches for the railroad and scientific instruments in addition to their classic pocket watches. This particular watch boasts a luxurious hand-engraved case and a handmade dial, making it a true work of art. Thanks to its durable construction and timeless design, this pocket watch is sure to last for generations to come with just basic care. Plus, it comes with a matching gold-filled pocket watch chain, so you can start using it right away. Add a touch of sophistication and nostalgia to your style with this stunning Elgin watch. Creator: Elgin Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Style: Art Deco Place of Origin: United States Period: 1910-1919 Date of Manufacture: 1918 Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timeline More pocket watches from this period Earlier: Industrial Revolution

Atlas type guide

Pocket watches

The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.

Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.

What to look for

The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.

Dating clues

Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

No escapement or complication is named in the source record. See the encyclopedia for how such pieces work.

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsRecorded
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: WatchMuseum.org shop (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © WatchMuseum.org — the publisher's own shop photographs (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Hand Engraved Pocket Watch, 1918." WatchMuseum.org shop, Product 3610. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/elgin-yellow-gold-filled-art-deco-hand-engraved-pocket-watch-c46244.